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    Sunday, May 05, 2024

    Calvary Church children's choir in Stonington is selling Stoningtonopoly game

    Stonington themed playing pieces are just some of the features of “Stoningtonopoly” a Monopoly-themed board game being sold by the Calvary Church children's choir.

    Editor's Note: This article correctly identifies the sponsors of Boardwalk and Park Place.

    Stoningtonopoloy is now a reality.

    The Calvary Church children’s choir, known as the Calvary Choristers, is selling a version of the popular Monopoly board game that not only features local landmarks and businesses, but die cast game pieces depicting Calvary Church, the Old Lighthouse Museum, a scallop, cannon, sailboat and yacht.

    The choir will use proceeds from the sale of the $35 game to help fund its trip to the United Kingdom next year to sing in two cathedrals.

    A Michigan company has produced 500 copies of the game for the choir and choir parent Amy Hambly, who worked on its design, said residents have already started buying them.

    “It was a really big endeavor and we’re so proud of it,” Hambly said last week as several choir members played the game with the church’s director of music Joseph Ripka and church Rector Rev. Dr. Alfred Tisdale in the church hall.

    “We wanted to do a fundraiser that gave back to our donors and not just ask for donations. We wanted to offer a service to our donors,” Hambly said about the origin of the idea and its promotional benefit for the supporters.

    In addition to having their names and logos printed on the board, businesses and donors sponsored landmarks such as the Old Lighthouse Museum, game pieces, the money, deed cards and the chance cards. Inside the box, which features a large photograph of the borough waterfront as seen from Wamphassuc Point, is an information sheet about the donors.

    The choir is also holding a launch party for the sponsors on Friday, May 15.

    “This is really a wonderful way to reach out into the community,” said Tisdale who pointed out the choir is open to children in kindergarten through grade 12 of all faiths. Members do not have to belong to Calvary Church or even be Episcopalian.

    “This is not just a church choir its a community choir school,” he said.

    The choir is planning a 10-day trip in July 2016 to sing at seven services at Lichfield Cathedral in Lichfield, England, and St. Mary’s Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland. Between 18 and 20 children are expected to make the trip along with six to eight adults.

    “They sing very difficult pieces and learn them in a short amount of time,” said Ripka.

    Hambly said that as word spread that the choir was looking for sponsors, many donors wanted to be part of the game. She managed to include all of them.

    “We took advantage of every sponsorship opportunity,” she said. “Without all the sponsors we wouldn’t have been able to pull this off.”

    On the board are businesses such as Milagro, the Dog Watch, Yellow House, Grand & Water Antiques, Tom’s News and the Village Barber Shop.

    Among the landmarks on the board are the Nathaniel Palmer House, Old Lighthouse Museum, Cannon Square, the Velvet Mill, the Borough School, Stonington Free Library, St. Mary Church, Calvary Church and the United Church.

    Game pieces were designed by a Rhode Island jeweler. Dime Bank sponsored the money and IMT Realty the deeds.

    The chance cards feature cards such as go to Tom’s News and buy penny candy, New England Science and Sailing for sailing lessons and a haircut at the Village Barber Shop to prepare for a beauty pageant.

    And for those who are wondering, The Old Lighthouse Museum and The Captain Palmer House hold down the prestigious Boardwalk and Park Place spots.

    Hambly said the choir also wanted to produce a game that families can sit down and play together “instead of something on a screen,”

    If sales go as well as expected, she said a second printing may be done.

    Games can be purchased by contacting Hambly at aspaud@aol.com.

    “I have two boxes of them in my car. I’ll meet you anywhere, (to sell one),” she joked.

    j.wojtas@theday.com

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